St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-18
VERY AFFECTING.
The Flower Mission" Visits the
Territorial RenitentiarY. =

40 Territorial Penitentiary.
Special Correspondence of the Globe.
. BISMARCK, OAK, June. 1e.-For the
first time in the history of this city, on
Sunday last, ,.thesaladies of Bismarck,
comprising what. is known as the
Flower 1nissien," in conformity wiblla
recenteeustonl of fheir order, Visited the
j territorial penitentiafy, and at the
chapel of that institution, in the as
sempled presence of all the prisoners
there confined, conducted a service in
tended for their especial benefit. Since
the question of theeWisdom and benefit
of such a mission has heenssomeWhat
seriously as, we'll as warmly meOted, it
may not be. Improbable to, give some of
the facts upon which a reliable judg-
ment may be formed. The service,
being under the exclusive conduct and
management of BiSmafck'S fair ladies,
was of such. nature. as to interest all
who were & permitted to hear lit;
but more especially was it touch
ing and impressive to those rough
men confined within the narrow prison
walls in expiration of the several crimes,
for the commission Of which they stand
convicted, and to whom it all had a
specific and individual significance.
In anticipation of this visit from the
fairies and ministering spirits of earth,
Warden Williams had made elaborate
preparations, and everything about the
grim ''home of the homeless" presented
an air of cheerfulness and beauty, quite
unlike the imaginative ideal of dun
geOn for the punishment of crime. By
the ready and willing assistance of the
prisoners the chapel had been elegantly
decorated with choice wild flowers of
many varieties and colors, such as only
the great Northwest can produce, and
an archway of flowers had been con-
structed over the door, from the surface
of which, in large Illuminated letters,
appeared a motto of welcome to the fair
visitors. When all things were in
lOvelybOuquetO of flowers, were conducted
to their position in the center of the
chapel, the doors were suddenly thrown
open, and under the stately discipline
of trained soldiers, with arms folded
and heads bowed, silently and slowly in
double column into the hall marched
those sixty-four strong men over whose
life-recOrdS is traced the Solemen and
awful decree of retributive Justice.
The picture was sadly impressive.
There stood those fair and noble repre-
sentatives of humanity in the presence
of that band of rough, strong, callOused
men, conscious only of generous and
humane impulse to lend an influence
which might throw a ray of light upon
the dark background of the past, and
stimulate hope in the possibilities of
bright and noble future. Rough and
hardened as the lives and characters of
men may be inclined to grow under the
harsh discipline of prison life, it is
wonderful how keenly sensitive the
manly nature forever remains to the
tender, gentle influence of a woman's
powers. Those great, rough men who, for
years, perhaps, had been strangers to
the finer senSibilities of life, were
moved by the tender cord of sympathy
from loving hearts, and the great, bright
tears, which had long refused to flow,
coursed down their rough cheeks in tor.
rents. a hymn was sung. prayer was
offered, a chapter from the Bible was
read, a reading of ''The Legend of the
Rose" was given, when Mrs. E. II. Will
son, one of Natures truest, noblest
women, stepped forward and delivered
an address upon the work of the
''Flower Mission" She explained the
origin of the society to which she and
her co-wOr1ers belong, how Miss Jennie
Cassidy, of Somerville, KY, an invalid,
who for many long, weary years had
lain helpless upon her bed of suffering,
found time and opportunity in the midst
of her affiiction to formulate the plan of
work which should bring comfort and
hope to those who, by the rigors of the
law or the misfortunes of adversity.
were deprived of the liberty which ali
mankind cOvet. This girl pa
tiently toiled upon her couch
of pain for years, selecting
appropriate verses and texts which
should inspire love of life and of
goodness and truth, with the design that
once a year the prisons, asylums and
alm-houseS all over the United States
should be visited, and the inmatas pre-
sented with e ,utiful bouquets offiowers
to each of which should be attached one
of these verses or texts.
This, she explained, was their work,
and was the mission which had inspired
them, as women of America, to VISIT the
penitentiary in the hope of stimulating
some good resolve, some bright hope,
some worthy aspiration. The address
was so full of touching pathos, tender
solicita ton and gentle sympathy, that
those stern, strong men wept like
children. and when asked how many
felt that they had been benefited by the
visit OF the tFlower Mission" ever man
reSpoded In the Affirmative. j.